Magalhaes leader, Hänninen in ambush

If all the drivers were in trouble at the start of the day, after the three special stages played the day before, the situation seriously changed during this Friday's special stages. Bruno Magalhaes (Peugeot 207 S2000), very sharp at home, took the lead from SS4, the first special of the day. The Portuguese gradually increased his lead, before seeing Juho Hänninen (Skoda Fabia S2000) return.

The Finn, who suffered at the start of the day, then took the measure of the roads of the archipelago, managing to push all his opponents back more than six seconds over the 7,8 km of SS12, the last special of the day! Leader at the start of the day, he slipped to fourth place before catching up with Andreas Mikkelsen (Ford Fiesta S2000) and Jan Kopecky (Skoda Fabia S2000). Now second, he is only 2?2 behind Bruno Magalhaes and can aim for victory.

On the other hand, Kris Meeke (Peugeot 207 S2000), not spared from problems at the start of the day, quickly lost all hope of winning. Victim of a puncture in the first special of the day, he then made an error which cost him around fifteen seconds in SS6, and pushed him back to 45?? of the racing head. The Peugeot UK driver then lost little time but, this Friday evening, the situation was harsh for the Northern Irishman, fifth at 51??7. He who still believed in the title before this Rally from the Azores, knows that he is escaping.